Liberal Senator could campaign for “no” vote in Indigenous referendum

Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi says he will consider campaigning for the ‘no’ vote, if a referendum on Indigenous recognition in the constitution is held.

The comment comes as Advocacy group Recognise has released a poll this week, that suggests 75 per cent of Australians would back a ‘yes’ vote, if a referendum on indigenous recognition was held now.

But Senator Bernadi says given the question has not yet been established, the poll means nothing.

“I’m suspicious of polls, and particularly advocacy polling, because when you don’t know the details it’s easy to say, ‘Yes, I agree, in sentiment’,” he told the ABC today.

“But when the details and the consequences are put in front of you, I think most people are conservative and say, ‘Do I really want to go down that path?'”

Senator Bernadi says if Australians will be categorised by race, causing the nation to be divided, he will campaign for the ‘no’ vote.

“Anything that seeks to divide our country by race, and every proposal that I’ve heard of seeks to do exactly that, I think is doomed to fail,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda says he’s very concerned about the lack of progress on the referendum, and the consequences it could have on public support.

“What we need urgently to happen is that this thing starts moving about engagement with the Aboriginal leaders at the top level of government and the Opposition,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 program last night.